After ditating for over an hour, Xie Jingshan felt almost fully recovered and woke from his ditation.
Opening his eyes, he saw Jiang Yuebai sitting opposite him, head lowered, diligently sanding a black stone in her hand with sandpaper.
A book lay open on her lap, and as she worked, she also ticulously read it, using her Divine Sense to turn the pages.
Xie Jingshan’s mouth twitched, recalling how when they were punished at Yinfeng Creek as children, this person could always infuriate him!
Xie Jingshan didn’t disturb Jiang Yuebai and just watched her quietly, lost in thought.
"What devious plan are you hatching in your stomach now?"
Jiang Yuebai spoke up, blew on the object in her hand, wiped it clean, inspected it twice, and tossed it to Xie Jingshan.
"For you."
Xie Jingshan raised his hand to catch it, discovering it was a shiny black top-grade Magnetic Stone, palm-sized, carved into the shape of a Huo Dou. After refinent, it shimred with silver amidst the black, and on its back was a dark red Rune.
"It’s the thought that counts. Last ti you gave a Crescent Pendant, this is my gift in return. Though it’s far from the Crescent Pendant in quality, I made it myself over an hour. I engraved a Rune on it with Earth Evil Fire; you can activate it with Fire Elent Sword Qi."
"When encountering that kind of Juling again, just throw it. As long as you extract the Magnetic Stone gathering electricity within their bodies, the Juling won’t be a threat. Also, in duels, the Magnetic Stone can influence tal Magic Artifacts and Gold Elent Magical Techniques to so degree. You can na it yourself."
Xie Jingshan raised his chin slightly, full of critique, "With such poor craftsmanship, Mountain and Sea Building wouldn’t hire you as an Artifact Refiner. Still, out of consideration for your sentint, I’ll reluctantly accept it."
Xie Jingshan placed the object in his Storage Ring, turned the ring, and a faint curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Jiang Yuebai rolled her eyes, "That’s really generous of you not to reject it."
Rumble!
Deep in Thunder Marsh, the sound of thunder grew intense, and a gale swirled up black sand, blotting out the sky.
Squeak squeak!
Jixiang shrank in terror in the basket, screaming, and Little Green, who was sent out for guard duty, flew back, with three words appearing on the lantern.
[Yin Qi present]
Little Green is a Ghost Lamp, highly sensitive to Yin Qi.
Jiang Yuebai frowned, "I’ve mined enough Magnetic Stones. We should leave Thunder Marsh sooner."
Kui Ox is a Thunder God Beast, also an Ancient Fierce Beast. Throughout history, as many have died in Thunder Marsh as in the Divine Demon Battlefield in the Land of Chaos.
Thunder Marsh often encounters strange occurrences. They’re just passing through, not here for training, so there’s no need to attract trouble.
Xie Jingshan also sensed the unease, picked up his sword, and stood.
"If we keep going without stopping, we should reach Wind Hoof Country in less than ten days."
Jiang Yuebai took out a bag of Jade Talismans for Xie Jingshan, "Keep using the Divine Concealnt Talisman, no matter what you encounter, avoid it. The journey is the priority."
After putting away Little Green and Jixiang, the two concealed themselves and set out again. As usual, Jiang Yuebai dispersed the Crane Feather Avatar and Sword Sky Puppet on either side for guard duty.
Xie Jingshan had special eyes, able to see Jiang Yuebai’s trace, and followed closely by her side.
"I never asked, why are you going to the Demon Clan?"
While charging ahead at great speed and the wind and sand were easy to swallow, Jiang Yuebai condensed Protective Gang Qi before answering, "Wasn’t it about that ti at the Wind and Cloud eting? In the Bronze Maze, you gained sothing, and in the Tree Vine Maze on my side, I also gained sothing. I took sothing from the Demon Clan, and now their Old Ancestor is summoning for a visit. I can’t refuse."
Xie Jingshan nodded, seeing Jiang Yuebai always a half-body ahead, secretly competed and sped up to get half a body ahead of Jiang Yuebai.
"The matter with Fufeng Mountain Master might get delayed. Are you in a hurry?"
Jiang Yuebai squinted at Xie Jingshan, silently sighing at his immaturity. She pushed off with her feet, overtaking Xie Jingshan to run ahead again.
"Once we reach Extraordinary People Country, it won’t be so urgent."
Extraordinary People Country is full of Extraordinary People. Even if a small Lingzhi grows into a mushroom on her head, it won’t seem strange there. It won’t matter if she accompanies Xie Jingshan to finish his business before heading to the Demon Clan.
"Tell more about Fufeng Mountain Master’s matter."
Xie Jingshan secretly invoked Gale Sword Intent with his left hand, shooting forward a great distance.
"According to the intelligence from Hongyan Building, Fufeng Mountain Master first showed up at Fufeng Mountain in Iron Feather Country, a gathering place for Feather Clan Extraordinary People. It’s said that the Fufeng Mountain Master is also a Feather Clan Extraordinary Person, proficient in dical skills and strategy, and took only half a year to conquer the entire Iron Feather Country."
"After that, he declared himself Fufeng Mountain Master, launching reforms from Iron Feather Country and frequently attacking the Human Clan’s comrcial associations and the Independent Cultivator Alliance in Extraordinary People Country. Within five years, he turned Iron Feather Country into a massive stronghold, which would be difficult to break without a large joint force of Golden Core Stage Cultivators."
Jiang Yuebai gradually caught up, "Yes, I understand. Many Human Clan cultivators are involved in the trade of Extraordinary People slaves. Those Extraordinary People, limited by their bodies and bloodlines, find reaching Foundation Establishnt Stage to be an extre limit, with almost none able to reach Golden Core Stage."
Seeing Jiang Yuebai not competing, Xie Jingshan slightly slowed down to run alongside her.
Ahead, a group of Thunder Beasts appeared, and the two leaped over in unison, tacitly understanding each other.
"Iron Feather Country has already started producing Golden Core Stage Extraordinary People. Up to now, there are more than ten. After closely comparing the tiline, I can confirm Fufeng Mountain Master is Shen Huaxi. These years, though he has led Iron Feather Country’s Extraordinary People in frequent attacks against Human Clan chambers of comrce, until five years ago, they never touched the Mountain and Sea Building."
"As you know, my Old Ancestor established a rule for Mountain and Sea Building forbidding the enslavent of Extraordinary People, and the Mountain and Sea Building in Extraordinary People Country occasionally employs Extraordinary People with conditions equal to those of Human Clan Cultivators. In theory, Mountain and Sea Building maintains a neutral stance without conflict with Extraordinary People."
Jiang Yuebai pondered, "So you suspect soone intends to fra Mountain and Sea Building as a scapegoat to eliminate Fufeng Mountain Master?"
"Correct, that’s the reason. My grandfather speaks of finding soone to remove Fufeng Mountain Master but has never taken action. This ti, as I investigate in Extraordinary People Country, he openly opposes yet covertly does not stop . The reform in Iron Feather Country is like a spark, tempting other Extraordinary People Countries to make moves."
"According to Hongyan Building’s investigation, seventeen countries have submitted alliance letters to Iron Feather Country, willing to accept Iron Feather Country’s leadership in exchange for its protection. Also, I’ve heard Fufeng Mountain Master has been in close contact with the Demon Clan in recent years, seemingly plotting sothing."
"The situation is really complicated. Aren’t you worried about being ambushed in Extraordinary People Country?" Jiang Yuebai asked.
Xie Jingshan took out a dicine bottle, shaking it, "I ca prepared. This dicine allows to temporarily assu Extraordinary People’s appearance so they won’t discover my identity."
Jiang Yuebai curiously asked, "What kind of Extraordinary Person will the dicine turn you into? Extraordinary People’s appearances vary greatly; watch out for a blossoming nose!"
Xie Jingshan put away the bottle, "The dicine was sourced by my grandfather. I have no idea what I’ll beco. What about you? How will you disguise yourself?"
Jiang Yuebai raised an eyebrow, "I don’t need to disguise myself. I’m an Extraordinary Person by nature!"
"What?"
This, Xie Jingshan didn’t know yet.
Jiang Yuebai suddenly dashed forward, taking out a Primordial Magnetic Ruler, "Don’t follow , I’m about to undergo Thunder Forging Body."
Rumble!
Jiang Yuebai raised the Primordial Magnetic Ruler, a silver lightning bolt abruptly struck her. Her running speed was undiminished and even boosted by the lightning, as she ran and circulated the ntal thod of the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Technique to temper her internal organs.
Currently, her skin is tough but her insides fragile. Only when both her exterior and interior are tempered can she truly beco as hardened as an iron brick, akin to Little Green, using herself to smash others.
Rumble!
The thunder continually redirected downwards, striking Jiang Yuebai, indistinguishable from nearby lightning hitting the ground, unlikely to attract attention.
Only Xie Jingshan watched with twitching eye-corners, his mindset crumbling.
How could soone manage both traveling and body refinent at the sa ti?
In his life, he had never seen such... indescribable, yet undoubtedly infuriating, people!
Wasn’t she afraid of falling into a ditch?
Xie Jingshan gritted his teeth in frustration, drawing two swords, one of wind, one of fire, and forcefully overtook Jiang Yuebai, practicing dual sword techniques on the run.
He, Xie Jingshan, would not admit defeat!
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